Because who wouldn’t want a giant mechanical lunar elephant? Exactly. No-one. Head over to David Alexander Smith‘s Flickr photostream to show your appreciation!
Spacephant
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Godzilla!
A huge reputation, a legend of the car scene for almost as long as there’s been one, and incredible attention to detail… Firas Abu-Jaber and the Nissan GT-R have much in common.
This, as you may have guessed, is Firas’ latest build; a faithfully recreated replica of Nissan’s 2017 Nismo GT-R. The current GT-R is an old-age pensioner by car design standards, but like that elderly ex-marine at the bus stop, or your Mom in the buffet queue, you wouldn’t mess with it. Launched a decade ago in 2007, Nissan’s replacement for the much-loved R34 Skyline GT-R took the well known all-wheel-drive turbocharged formula and thoroughly Spinal Tapped it.
A hand-built 3.8litre V6 engine fitted with twin parallel Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries turbochargers gave the GT-R just under 500bhp at launch, a figure which when combined with Nissan’s trick all-wheel-drive system allowed the GT-R to obliterate almost any other car off the line and in the corners. Hypercars included.
Since its launch the GT-R’s power has steadily increased, with standard models up to 545bhp by 2012 and this, the 2017 Nismo version, reaching almost 600bhp. That extra 50bhp doesn’t come cheap though, as the Nismo GT-R costs around 50% more than the standard model, making it surely one of the worst value-for-money special editions in automotive history.
We’ll stick with the standard car thanks Nissan, which is genuinely still something of a bargain, and we’ll leave the Nismo GT-R, its mad carbon-fibre aero, and its even madder sticker price, to Firas Abu-Jaber’s spectacular Model Team recreation.
Firas has made an extensive gallery of stunning images available, including several showing the interior inside the opening doors, and the realistic twin-turbo V6 engine under the opening hood. See more of the legend for yourself at Firas’ photostream, and you can read our interview with the builder as part of the Master MOCers series by clicking here.
Clockwork Orange
We have a happy TLCB Elf in the office today. Contentedly munching on an orange Smartie (they’re the best kind), it found this brilliant mechanical-only Technic Mercedes-Benz Arocs tipper truck. Yup, mechanical only – meaning Thirdwigg’s Arocs tipper has completely eschewed Power Functions remote control for good ol’ fashioned hand-powered gears. This meant no Elven mayhem, no smushing, and a quiet and peaceful day for all. The Elves even seem to be enjoying this unusual state of affairs, but we’re sure that’ll change soon.
Thirdwigg’s truck hasn’t eschewed functionality alongside electric power though, and it’s packed with all the working functions you’d expect a Technic model to have, including four-wheel steering, a working piston engine, a tilting cabin with opening doors, and a linear actuator controlled tipper mechanism.
We think Thirdwigg’s Arocs tipper truck would make a decent official Technic set, and you can see more of his build at both his Flickr photostream and via the Brickshelf gallery here.
KRAZY
This is a Ukrainian KrAz 255 6×6 off-road truck, launched in the late 1960s by the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. The KrAZ factory actually started out making bridges, then combine harvesters, before moving on to military trucks. Communism meant you built what you were told to…
KrAZ were good at trucks though, and in 1971 they were awarded the Order of Lenin (the highest decoration bestowed by the Soviet Union) for their successes, and their products were exported to several countries around the world.
Since the collapse of the Soviet Union KrAZ are no longer under the control of the state, and – a little weirdly – are supplying vehicles to the Ukrainian army to defend Ukraine from invasion by their old masters Russia.
This superb Model Team style recreation of the Soviet-era KrAZ 255 is the work of xxtruck of Brickshelf, making his TLCB debut. Underneath the realistic exterior is a remotely controlled 6×6 drivetrain, working suspension on all wheels, a detailed engine and interior, and functioning head and tail lights.
There’s lots more of the KrAZ 255 to see via xxtruck’s Brickshelf Gallery – take a look via the link above.
Just a Jeep
This is a Jeep CJ5. It has no bluetooth, no parking assist, no duel zone air conditioning, no lane departure warning system, and no electronic terrain response system. But it’s a million times better than any of the SUVs and Crossovers that drive past the TLCB office in their hundreds, and we want one. Luckily TLCB regular Senator Chinchilla can give us our CJ fix, and there’s more to see of his Model Team version of the little Jeep at his photostream. Click the link above to make the jump for all the photos.
Wremotely Wrangling
This spellbinding creation comes from one of The Lego Car Blog’s very favourite builders. Madoca1977 has appeared here numerous times over the years with his stunning Technic vehicles. His latest is one of the best loved 4x4s on the planet (and one of the most realistic Lego recreations of it we’ve ever seen); the glorious Jeep Wrangler.
Powered by two L Motors with a Medium motor driving the steering, Madoca’s Jeep is fully remote controlled, and it features a unique shock-less pendular suspension set-up to give it genuine off-road ability, despite both front and rear axles having an open differential.
The Wrangler also features LED lights, opening doors, hood and tailgate, and a detachable hardtop, and there’s loads more to see courtesy of the discussion forum at the Eurobricks portal, where there are also images of a black version of the model available to view, plus a link to building instructions. Tempted?… See what Madoca’s Jeep Wrangler can do via the video below…
YouTube Video
Terrorist’s Friend
The humble Japanese pick-up truck, almost always a Toyota Hilux, is the backbone of the terrorist transportation market. Tough, easily repaired, and able to withstand a machine gun being mounted in the bed, they’re seen in almost every conflict zone on the planet. Despite the Disneyfication of the world’s troubles by Fox (where there must always be ‘Goodies’ and ‘Baddies’), many such vehicles are used to fight one-another too, such is the complicated and tribal nature of war at the moment.
BrickMonkey’s creation comes right out of the U.S media’s ‘Terrorist Baddie’ playbook. White pick-up truck? Check. Dark-skinned occupants? Check. Machine gun in the back? Check. Definitely a ‘Baddie’…
Except we’re smarter than that here at TLCB, so we’re not going to adopt a lazy stereotype (except about the U.S media. Prove us wrong Fox News). Thus this particular pick-up truck is being driven by members of the Kurdistan Pershmerga, fighting to drive Islamic State from their territory and liberate the Kurds suffering under their oppression. So it’s a ‘Goodie’. Except in Turkey where the Kurds are fighting for independence and are the ‘Baddies’, even though Turkey are also themselves fighting Islamic State. See, war is complicated…
Decide who you think is driving BrickMonkey’s pick-up truck at his photostream by clicking here, and if you get stuck you can always do the secret signal.
Minecraft
It’s been a summery weekend here at TLCB, and this writer has been enjoying the great outdoors. Spare a thought then for those working far away from the sun, bringing us the materials out of the ground that we use in everyday life. However, one upside to such a job is that someone gets to drive machines like this one; the huge mining excavators.
This one isn’t huge at all though, having been thoroughly miniaturised by builder Krall, yet it’s still packed with Technic functionality. A rotating superstructure, rolling tracks, a two-stage motorised arm and a motorised bucket all feature, and there’s more to see of Krall’s creation at his Flickr photostream and at the Eurobricks discussion forum.
On The Run
For some reason sci-fi modellers often depict future transport as having legs. This is strange because wheels are obviously more efficient and mechanically simpler to design. Walking vehicles also require advanced stabilisation and control technology. Why would society abandon the wheel? Would it eventually mean the end of The Lego Car Blog? How would the Elves win their Smarties?
Perhaps one area where walking machines might make sense would be in a form of racing, such as BobDeQuatre’s Running Flamingo. As we noted earlier in the week, racing competitions often arbitrarily change their rules, so why not ban wheels? BobDeQuatre has created the World Running League for exactly this sort of motor sport. Click this link to see his other MOC in the series or this link to enjoy the extreme stereo-panning of today’s title track from an appropriately pink group.
Ferrari-Lite
It’s hard to do justice here to just how amazing the second generation Toyota MR2 was when it was launched in 1989. Toyota, like most of the Japanese manufacturers at the time, were on a roll. Even so, the arrival of the ‘W20’ series MR2 was one of the most shocking the automotive community had seen in ages. Looking like a mid-engined Ferrari and – in turbocharged form – going like one too, the effect would be like Hyundai launching a 458 rival today. Of course most people at the time didn’t know it was only humble Toyota with a four-cylinder engine…
This brilliant Model Team recreation of the early ’90s Toyota MR2 is the work of serial bloggee Senator Chinchilla, and he’s absolutely nailed it. Featuring opening doors, a well-replicated interior, an opening engine lid and a realistic engine, Senator’s MR2 is packed with quality detailing. There’s more to see at his photostream via the link to Flickr above, and if you can find a good second generation MR2 for sale – buy it. Their values are only going to go one way…
Jap Rod
Japan’s product design may not have a reputation for originality, but the Japanese can take almost anything pioneered by another part of the world and make it better. See the Mazda MX-5 Miata, the Toyota Land Cruiser, the Nissan GT-R, and pretty much every electronic device ever invented.
We can probably add hot rods to that list now too, thanks to this gorgeous 1932 ‘Takehito Yamato’ Ford Deuce Coupe. This Lego recreation of the real-world car comes from Master MOCer and previous bloggee Andrea Lattanzio aka Norton74, and he’s replicated the original vehicle superbly in Lego form, even building a beautiful period-correct workshop in which to house it.
There’s more to see of the Takehito Yamato at Norton74’s photostream – click the link above to head over to somewhere inbetween America and Japan.
Size Isn’t Everything
At least, that’s what your Mom told this TLCB writer. It’s a philosophy adopted by Flickr’s LEGO 7 too, who has constructed this charming micro-scale scene in which none of the vehicles are more than two studs in width. They’re all instantly identifiable though, with a taxi, police car, excavator, cement truck, ambulance, semi truck, coupe and bus all recreated brilliantly in miniature and placed within a clever modular roadway. There’s lots more to see of all the vehicles plus the neatly designed base at LEGO 7’s photostream – click the link above to check it out.
Life-Size LEGO McLaren 720S at Goodwood
McLaren are on a bit of roll at the moment. Since their return to the road car market as a stand-alone manufacturer their growth has been nothing short of exceptional, first creating credible rivals to the established supercar manufacturers and now, with their new 720S, arguably surpassing them.
Powered by the firm’s well-proven twin turbocharged V8 engine, the all-carbon 720S has taken supercar performance into hypercar territory, with a 0-124mph time of less than 8 seconds. The competition amongst the world’s supercar builders is going to get very tasty…
McLaren launched the 720S at the Goodwood Festival of Speed at the weekend, and in doing so gave visitors the chance to build their very own car. Well, sort of…
Constructed from almost 280,000 LEGO bricks, this life-size replica of the McLaren 720S is the work of certified LEGO Professionals Bright Bricks. Besides being constructed around a metal frame and resting upon real wheels, this incredible 1:1 scale supercar is entirely built from LEGO pieces, and visitors to the Festival of Speed could help to gradually complete the car by adding the final layer of orange bricks to the bodywork.
When complete the finished model actually weighs more than the real car (that’s why the actual 720S is constructed from carbon fibre), and it’s due to go on tour as part of the McLaren 720S launch programme, so you may well get to see it if you’re planning to visit a motoring event this year.
Until then you can feast your eyes on these pictures of the part-finished 1:1 scale McLaren 720S from the Goodwood Festival of Speed last weekend, including a slightly clickbaity attractive girl (top) and a Goodwood’s own slightly less clickbaity Lord March (centre), plus you can read a review of LEGO’s slightly smaller – but just as orange – McLaren P1 Speed Champions set (courtesy of two of our readers) by clicking here.
Duty Free
On every flight there’s always one. That lady or gentleman who – when booze is marginally cheaper courtesy of airport tax free shopping – decides to optimise this saving. “I’ll just get a few bottles to take home” they say. Sure they will. Those bottles will be empty before they’ve even boarded. Anyway, this post is for them – and to that one guy who tries to smoke in the airplane toilet – as these models are literally encouraging drinking/smoking and flying.
With most countries doing what Formula 1 wouldn’t (because F1 is all about the monies), and banning alcohol and cigarette sponsorship in sport, alcoholic beverage and cigarette companies are no longer seen on the side of Formula 1 cars.
But there are no rules in space…
This is Formula Zero Gravity, an invention by British Lego Group Brickish, and they’re single-handedly bringing morally-dubious sponsorship back to top level racing! Two of motorsport’s greatest liveries have made the return so far (with more to come), with Nick Barrett’s stupendous Martini Racing F0 racer above, and Jeremy Williams’ gorgeous John Player Special F0 racer below.
There’s more to see of Nick’s build at both his MOCpage and photostream, and you can view Jeremy’s courtesy of Flickr here. Enjoy your flight!
Independence Day
It’s the fourth of July! Which means America is celebrating the day when Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum implanted a virus in the alien mothership intent on invading Earth. Or something. Anyway, to celebrate here’s probably the most American vehicle we could find, a huge gas-guzzling military off-road behemoth!
Except this huge gas-guzzling military off-road behemoth isn’t American at all. In fact it’s called the Nimr Ajban SOV (a name alone which probably irritates some members of the NRA), and it comes from the United Arab Emirates.
This giant 1:8 scale Technic recreation of Abu Dhabi’s finest military hardware is the work of Samolot, and it’s packed with Technic goodness. Four Power Functions L motors offer direct drive to each wheel, a fifth L motor powers the steering, there’s all-wheel independent suspension, and it sits on massive third party 130mm tyres.
If you’d like to see more of Samolot’s Nimr Ajban head on over to either MOCpages or Eurobricks where the full gallery of images – plus some videos of the model in action – are available to view.
